The Samsung Galaxy S22 will be the first major smartphone release of 2022; the Galaxy S21 lineup offered three models, led by the S21 Ultra.

However, with the launch of the S22, there could be a major change. Rumors surrounding the upcoming phone suggest that the S22 Ultra will be positioned almost as a separate phone, with distinctive looks and features that set it apart from the standard Galaxy S21 and S21 Plus. In fact, the Galaxy S22 Ultra may be the successor to the Galaxy Note with a built-in S Pen.

The Samsung Galaxy S22 and Galaxy S22 Ultra comparison takes a closer look at the expected changes between the different S22 models. But for now, let's focus on what makes the Galaxy S22 Ultra different from the other models.

Here we take a look at the five top features rumored for the Galaxy S22 Ultra and what they say about how Samsung's release plans are shaping up.

S Pen support would not be the first Samsung phone outside of the Galaxy Note lineup. After all, the Galaxy S21 Ultra was the first phone to work with Samsung's stylus last year, followed by the Galaxy Z Fold 3. Expect the Galaxy S22 Ultra to continue this trend.

However, the difference is that in these first two devices, the S Pen was an optional accessory; with the Galaxy S22 Ultra, it appears that Samsung will integrate the stylus into the phone itself, as it did with the Galaxy Note phablet.

Of course, there is no official confirmation on this, only rumors and rendered images of the device; photos purportedly showing the S22 Ultra design include a slot for the S Pen, making this upcoming phablet a true successor to the Galaxy Note, which did not receive an update this year.

We cannot stress enough how important it is that the Galaxy S22 Ultra will have a built-in S Pen: not only will you have to pay extra to use the S Pen on the Galaxy S21 Ultra or Galaxy Z Fold 3, but you will also have to purchase a case to hold the stylus. You also need to purchase a case to hold the stylus. A slot in the phone itself would promise a more integrated experience.

Speaking of these leaked photos, if they are accurate, the Galaxy S22 Ultra promises to be a new design that actually utilizes older Samsung phones for inspiration. The alleged S22 Ultra looks a lot like the Galaxy Note 20, with a more blocky, square design.

What piqued our interest, however, was the rumored camera layout. Instead of the large blocks that characterize the current camera layout, Samsung will reportedly use a more subtle water-drop style lens that blends into the back of the phone. The cameras will be arranged in a design known as a "P-shape," and the lenses are likely to be descending in size.

It is worth noting that the rumored look of the Galaxy S22 Ultra appears to be quite different from what is reportedly in the works for the S22 and S22 Plus. These two models are expected to look more like earlier models, further foreshadowing a split in the way Samsung develops and markets the S21 Ultra.

It is not far-fetched to expect Qualcomm's Snapdragon system-on-chip to appear in the Galaxy S22 Ultra, and all three models in the Galaxy S22 lineup. After all, Samsung typically uses Qualcomm's best chipsets in its phones, at least in models released in the US

. Rumors about the chip suggest a 20% performance boost over the Snapdragon 888 in this year's Galaxy S21 lineup, and while early leaked benchmarks do not fully support that, at least one prominent leaker, expect the Snapdragon 898-powered S22 model to outperform its predecessor, even if the iPhone 13 and its A15 Bionic processor continue to set the pace.

One change from Samsung's past approach that could affect the Galaxy S22 Ultra outside the U.S.: Samsung typically uses its own Exynos chips in flagship devices sold in these markets, but new rumors indicate that Samsung will use the Snapdragon 898 in all devices, regardless of region.

Samsung will be hard-pressed to improve on the display used in the Galaxy S21 Ultra. This display relies on LTPO technology, which allows the refresh rate to be scaled up or down depending on what is being manipulated on the screen. This feature is almost certain to return in the Galaxy S22 Ultra.

However, there is more than one way to improve the display, and one prominent leaker claims that the Galaxy S22 Ultra will offer the brightest display in Samsung's history; given that the S21 Ultra's maximum rating was 1,500 nits, a very bright screen, there is no doubt that it will be.

When we tested the Galaxy S21 Ultra, we measured its display at 821 nits, which is indeed bright. However, since this model was released, the iPhone 13 Pro Max has recorded 1,038 nits with adaptive brightness turned on. This would give the Galaxy S22 Ultra a target.

Like the display, the Galaxy S21 Ultra's camera will also be tough. No wonder, since rumors suggest that the Galaxy S22 Ultra will not try to top those camera specs, but will offer a similar camera array, with a 108MP main shooter plus a 12MP ultra-wide-angle camera and a pair of telephoto lenses.

While the specs may not change, the features are rumored to remain the same. The main camera is said to have a wider aperture to capture more light, and the two telephoto lenses are said to be larger to capture more light. We are also told that the S22 Ultra's 108MP sensor will have a new detail mode for sharper photos.

As good as Samsung's cameras are, they sometimes struggle with consistent color. If the rumors of a Samsung-Olympus partnership do not materialize, expect Samsung to adopt the SRGB sensor for better color in high contrast scenes.

The rumors surrounding Samsung's largest Galaxy S models are exciting, but that's before the new rumors dispute the additional facts: the Galaxy S22 Ultra and the rest of the Galaxy S22 family are said to be coming in February, and Samsung has a few months to sort out what features will or will not move the needle for it.